"The Splendid Road" (1925)

Dear Silent Hall of Fame Users:

You have come to this website, because you like silent films and silent movie stars. There are many places like this. But unlike other sites, here at Silent Hall of Fame you can make a real difference. You can help us show for the first time many films featuring your favorite silent stars that have not been seen in generations. This will bring their names back into the public discourse. But you can do much more than that: you can help your favorite silent stars receive belated recognition and glory.

Until now there has never been an organization with the purpose to place a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for movie personalities from a century ago. Silent Hall of Fame is this historic organization. Silent Hall of Fame is the only organization of its kind. We will make history and we invite you to become a part of history by sponsoring a silent movie star for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. All contributions are tax deductible.

Please use this button for a one-time donation. Use the button on the right-hand side for a recurring donation.

Rare Gems on DVD

Our users have spoken, and we have listened. You want to see rare and hard to find films, and we have created for you the Silent Gems Collection, available on eBay. This DVD collection includes rare and for the first time available films with our stars, as well as other silent masterpieces. These are high quality films that are hard to find anywhere else. Please click on this link to see the collection: Silent Gems Collection

Important Update:

You don't have to leave our website in order to obtain the films from our Silent Gems Collection. These gems are now available to our users as a reward for donation. For details click here.

Out Yonder 1919 The Woman God Forgot 1917 That Model from Paris 1926 For Better for Worse 1919 Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall 1924

OUR DOCUMENTARY

We are proud to present to all silent film lovers our multiple award-winning documentary! In March 2015 it won the distinction "Award of Merit" at the San Francisco Film Awards. In May it won the Silver Award at the 2015 International Independent Film Awards. In September 2015 it won the Award of Recognition at the Accolade Global Film Competition. Of equal merit is the inclusion of the documentary in the Official Selection of the San Jose International Short Film Festival in October 2015. In December the documentary won the extremely prestigious Diamond Award at the 2015 California Film Awards. The amazing run of recognition for our documentary continued in 2016. In February it was included in the Official Selection of the Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival.

San Francisco Film Awards new International Independent Film Awards new Accolade Global Film Competition Award new San Jose International Short Film Festival new California Film Awards small new

Marceline Day in a beautiful portrait for "The Splendid Road"

Directed by                Frank Lloyd
Produced by          Frank Lloyd
Written by J.G. Hawks (scenario)
Based on    "The Splendid Road" by Vingie E. Roe
Starring                     Anna Q. Nilsson, Robert Frazer, Lionel Barrymore, Gladys Brockwell, Pauline Garon, Marceline Day, Snitz Edwards
Cinematography       Norbert F. Brodine
Distributed by Frank Lloyd Productions
Release date       December 6, 1925 (United States)
Running time           80 min.
Country    United States
Language    Silent, English intertitles

We have included this film in our program to illustrate the work and contributions of our star Marceline Day.

"The Splendid Road", made by the renowned director Frank Lloyd, is a stirring historical drama, which has earned the praise of the critics both for the film itself and for the performances of the stars, including Marceline Day in her first dramatic role.

Silent Era lists this film as "survival status: unknown". It is not available for viewing, so we have to rely on newspaper articles from the 1920ies. If you have any information about a surviving copy of the film please let us know.

Here are just a few of the reviews for this film:

"The Splendid Road", latest of the Frank Lloyd First National releases, which will be open at the York on Saturday, has its hilarious moments and its moments of suspense and thrill - and also its moments of sorrow and despair. With Anna Q. Nilsson, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Frazer, Gladys Rockwell, and Pauline Garon featured in a romance of the California gold rush days of '49, the matter of entertainment is something to be taken for granted. Miss Nilsson as Sandra has probably never been seen in a more dominant character role. Robert Frazer as Halliday is perfect. Lionel Barrymore as Dan Clehollis gives a sterling performance in a part which might easily be unsympathetic.

All down the line In the supporting cast one can list
EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES.
Edward Earle as Dr. Bidwell is excellent, as is Edward Davis as the banker. Pauline Garon plays a jealous dance hall girl with considerable fire, and Gladys Brockwell puts her heart into the character of Satan's sister. Marceline Day contributes a splendid dramatic spark. A brilliant future seems destined for her. (Mirror)

"The Splendid Road" is a glorious drama of a woman's battle against the man's odds with the California gold rush as a background of sweeping action. (Photoplay Magazine)

Good dramatic action and strong romantic appeal in story of the Gold rush days. Quaint atmosphere, realistic and interesting.The story is adapted from Vingie E. Roe's novel. The California gold rush is the background for this highly dramatic romance of the days when the lure of gold sent thousands of pioneers into the west. (Film Daily)

With a picture that carries the full sweep of his genius, Frank Lloyd has answered the demand for a successor to "Winds of Chance".

It isn't the drama of men but of women who followed the golden trail. One was a daughter of wealth, one was a dance-hall girl, and one dressed as a man and gambled like men. Anna Q. Nilsson, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Frazer, supported by Edward Earle, Gladys Brockwell, Pauline Garon, Marceline Day, Russell Simpson and George Bancroft. Never before was there such a cast of stars.

Spectacular, thrilling in action, beautiful in romance, keen in humor, "The Splendid Road" has still a greater magnetism. It has caught that spirit which makes for phenomenal success. (Film Daily).

"Marceline Day is living up to the promise of becoming one of the leading luminaries of the screen". (Movie Monthly)

"Pretty Marceline Day looms large in her dainty way." (Screenland)

"No less an authority than Frank Lloyd has declared Marceline Day to be one of the real discoveries of 1925; she has a prominent role in Mr. Lloyd's new picture, The Splendid Road, and word comes to us that she creates an outstanding achievement". (Movie Monthly)